Phone or gadget insurance can be worth it if replacing a broken or stolen phone at short notice would be hard to pay for. Published cover starts from €3.99 a month at Gadgetinsurance.com, for a phone worth up to €200, under 12 months old, bought online (checked 9 November 2026). It is often not worth it if your home insurance already covers the phone outside the home, if the excess is close to the repair bill, or if the problem is a fault.
What a year of cover costs
At €3.99 a month, a year of cover costs €47.88. Two years cost €95.76. That price is for a phone worth up to €200.
Each claim adds the excess. The Gadgetinsurance.com excess is €75 per claim (checked 9 November 2026). So one claim in the first year costs €122.88 in total, for a phone worth up to €200.
The CCPC suggests comparing the price of the device with the cost of insuring it over its lifetime. It adds that electronic products lose value quickly, so you may only want cover for a limited period, such as two years.
Dearer phones cost more to insure. Our phone insurance guide shows a published price for a newer, higher-value model.
When gadget insurance may not be worth it
- The excess is close to the repair cost. The CCPC says that if the excess is higher than the cost of replacing the gadget, insurance may not be worthwhile.
- Your home insurance already covers it. The CCPC says items covered by gadget insurance may also be covered by your home policy. See the next section.
- Your worry is a fault. If you bought the gadget from a business, the CCPC says you have consumer rights for faulty products, and insurance is not needed for faults.
- The phone is more than a year old. The CCPC says you may only be able to insure devices less than one year old.
- You bought it second-hand. Gadgetinsurance.com does not cover phones bought from a friend or in a private sale.
- Losing it is your main worry. The CCPC warns that loss may not be covered. At Gadgetinsurance.com, loss cover is an add-on at extra cost.
- Your employer owns it. Gadgetinsurance.com does not cover a phone or other device your employer gave you for work.
It can also make little sense if you could replace the phone from savings without strain. In that case you are paying a premium and an excess for a cost you could carry yourself.
Check your home insurance first
Your home policy may already cover your phone, tablet or laptop. The CCPC warns against doubling up on cover with different policies.
Standard contents cover is mostly for things kept at home. The CCPC lists personal belongings usually carried outside the home as not usually covered by a contents policy, "unless you have specified them".
All-risks cover
All-risks is the part of a home policy that follows you outside. The CCPC describes it as an optional extra for valuables inside and outside the home, including items taken abroad for up to 60 days.
There are two types, the CCPC says:
- Unspecified items. You choose an overall value, such as €5,000, without listing each item. Most policies set a single item limit, such as €1,000.
- Specified items. If something is worth more than the single item limit, you list it and its value to get full cover.
Personal possessions limits
Some home policies include cover for belongings outside the home. Zurich's home insurance page lists €2,000 cover for loss of personal possessions outside your home, with a single item limit of €750 (checked 9 November 2026). A phone worth more than €750 would be above that limit.
The home insurance excess
The CCPC says the excess on home insurance is usually €100 to €500 for standard claims. It also says the excess on home cover may be higher than the cost of replacing the gadget.
A claim on your home policy could also cost you a discount. The CCPC lists having made no claims in the past three years as one reason you may get a lower home premium.
Paying for both may not double your cover. Gadgetinsurance.com asks for details of any household insurance when you claim, and may recover a share of the claim from that insurer. Our guide to what home insurance covers explains contents cover in more detail.
Faulty gadgets: your rights under Irish law
A fault is the seller's problem, not an insurance claim. The Consumer Rights Act 2022 sets out your rights when you buy goods from a business.
- 30 days for a refund. If a fault appears within 30 days of buying or delivery, you can return the item for a full refund. The CCPC calls this the "short term right to cancel". Section 24 of the Act sets the 30-day limit.
- 12 months when the fault is presumed. Under section 22, a fault that shows up within 12 months is presumed to have existed when you got the item, unless the contrary is proven. After 12 months, the CCPC says you have to prove it.
- Up to six years. The CCPC says your rights to a repair, replacement or refund last for up to six years after you buy the item or it is delivered.
Your contract is with the shop or website that sold you the item. The CCPC says the business should not send you to the manufacturer to fix a fault.
Keep proof of purchase. The CCPC says a card statement, an order confirmation email, a delivery docket or a gift receipt can stand in for a receipt.
One gadget policy shows how this works. The Gadgetinsurance.com wording excludes loss caused by a manufacturer's defect or recall, and it covers breakdown only after the manufacturer's guarantee ends.
Manufacturer warranties and paid warranties
The CCPC separates the two. A guarantee is a promise from a business or maker to repair or replace an item within a set period, and it is usually free.
A warranty, or extended warranty, costs extra. The CCPC says it "acts as a sort of insurance policy" and may include accidental damage. If you already pay for one, check what it covers before you buy gadget insurance as well.
Neither replaces your legal rights, the CCPC says. It suggests checking which parts and labour a warranty covers, and who is responsible for honouring it.
A new EU label helps here. From 27 September 2026, a seller must display a standard label when a maker confirms a free guarantee that covers the whole product and lasts more than two years.
When it may be worth it
- Replacing the phone at once would mean borrowing or going without.
- Your home cover stops at the front door, or its single item limit is lower than the value of your phone.
- You travel a lot. The CCPC says worldwide gadget cover is available up to a set number of days a year. Gadgetinsurance.com allows 180 days in any 12 months.
- You have several gadgets. The CCPC says multi-cover policies may be cheaper. Gadgetinsurance.com offers a discount of up to 15% when 4 gadgets are insured on one policy.
Questions to ask yourself
- Could I replace this phone next week without borrowing?
- Does my home insurance include all-risks or personal possessions cover, and what is the single item limit?
- Is the excess on either policy close to the cost of a new screen?
- Is my phone less than 12 months old, and do I have proof of purchase?
- Am I already paying for a warranty with accidental damage cover?
- Do I need cover for loss, or only for damage and theft?
For laptops and tablets, see laptop and tablet insurance. For the wider picture, see our gadget insurance guide and the guide to insurance costs in Ireland.
Sources
- CCPC: Gadget insurance (accessed 9 November 2026)
- CCPC: Home insurance (accessed 9 November 2026)
- CCPC: Faulty goods and products (accessed 9 November 2026)
- CCPC: Guarantees and warranties (accessed 9 November 2026)
- Irish Statute Book: Consumer Rights Act 2022, sections 22 and 24 (accessed 9 November 2026)
- Gadgetinsurance.com: Mobile Phone Insurance page, Gadget Insurance page, FAQs, Make a Claim page and Policy Document (accessed 9 November 2026)
- Zurich: Home Insurance page (accessed 9 November 2026)
General information, not financial advice. Prices and rules change: check the details with the insurer before you buy.